For the readers that may not be familiar with you, can you tell them who you are and what you do?

DJ Official

My name is DJ Official. I am a DJ and Producer for Reach Records. Well, was a former DJ for Reach Records but had to retire in 2014 due to some health issues I have been battling with since 2000.

Marv

Ok, ok. How long have you been in the music biz?

DJ Official

I have been in the music biz for over 14 years but have been dj’ing and producing for much longer than that.

Marv

How do you did you get into DJing and Production?

DJ Official

I grew up in NY so hip-hop was all around me and when I heard “A Tribe Called Quest’s – Midnight Marauders and Gang Starr’s – Hard To Earn) I knew I wanted to do music for a living. My mom and dad were very supportive of my musical ambitions and would buy me equipment here and there. Also my dad would even let me use his old turntable which I used to learn to scratch. First record I ever owned that I learned to scratch on was Digital Underground’s “The Humpty Dance”.

Marv

Definitely telling your age lol. You’ve worked with both labels (CrossMovement and Reach). When and how did you link up with CM and how was the transition from CM to Reach?

DJ Official

When CM released their first project “Heaven’s Mentality” a good friend of mine had given me their cd and a Flynn Adam Atkins cd. Mind you I was a “new” Christian and didn’t even know hip hop and Christianity co-existed. So when I got the cd’s I was amazed. CM’s project really spoke to me. It was the sound I was accustomed to coming from NY. Plus, I was reading through the New Testament of my bible and I would hear stuff from the CM project that I was reading in my bible. They sold me. I got in touch with them from their website and Cruz Cordero hit me up and I met them in Philly and long story short after chilling with them and them getting to know me I became their DJ and one of their main producers for 7 years until they disbanded in 2007. After they disbanded I really had nothing to do for awhile. So I heard Reach was going on a tour and had talked to Trip Lee, Tedashii and Lecrae about possibly Dj’ing it. It took awhile to get back but they did and I became the tour DJ. After that I became the DJ for multiple artist on Reach and then just for Lecrae until 2014.

Marv

Wow!!! How has it been working with Reach?

DJ Official

I love those guys with all my heart. Like I said earlier I have been going through health issues and they have been there every step. Even helped raise money for me and my family while I took some time off to work through my health issues. These guys are more than friends. They are my brothers.

Marv

Amen. I know some months back, you we were sick and had to go under surgery. Care to share how you’ve been doing and how has the recovery process been?

DJ Official

In 2010 I found out I had a rare form of cancer called “light chains disease”. It’s a cancer that effects the kidney. But for some reason it has effected my lungs also but they can’t clearly find a reason why and it’s usually a cancer that just effects the kidney. In Nov 2013, I under went a bone marrow transplant to combat this cancer and bring it into remission. It did. But it came back in the summer of 2014 and around the end of fall my doctor’s got into remission again. But it has since done damage to my kidney’s and I am currently on dialysis. My kidney’s couldn’t take the beating anymore and since have started failing. Still praying and asking GOD for healing for my lungs, cancer and kidney’s. I’m doing pretty good at the moment but it’s a long process and requires patience and faith. Looking for a lung and kidney transplant. But all that takes time and precision.

Marv

Definitely keeping you in prayer. Do you plan on going back on tour with Reach?

DJ Official

At the moment. No! I wish I was. I miss the road like crazy but my body can’t take the road life. I do dialysis 3 times a week and walk with oxygen to help with my breathing. I can do normal day to day things and even go out from time to time but the road life is harsh and hard on the body.

Marv

What are some important essentials you’ve learned and hold on to in this business?

DJ Official

Some essentials I have learned are. 1. Be honest. You never get better if you always have yes men in your corner. Plus, when you do business always be honest. When you tell half truths or lie it always come back. Our circle is very small and things always come back to bite you if you. 2. Friendship should be essential. It’s easy to find business but to develop friendships is so key. They last much longer than the music. 3. Work hard. While you are slacking and taking your time with things. There is some young kid who is ready to work for nothing and be the go to guy. 4. Be diverse but stay true to yourself. One thing people love about my production how it has changed over the years. I have adapted to the ever growing change. It will help keep you in the game for longer than just a phase. 5. Be prompt. When rappers need their tracks that they paid for. Send the stuff they paid for right away. They will give a good report and might even be a repeat customer.

Marv

Do you believe there a over saturation of producer or is enough room for everyone?

DJ Official

I think everyone has their time. There is aways that one guy with a sound that takes over. Everyone uses him and they on to the next one. That’s why I was always felt that a producer should adapt and change with the times. You got guys like Rick Rubin producing for Jay-Z and then Johnny Cash. Killing it with both. Such a great example of true musicianship and adapting. There is room if you are truly creating something that people want to use. That sound…

Marv

No doubt. What needs to change in CHH if any?

DJ Official

I think CHH needs to stop worrying about all the silliness and just work hard. If your music is unto the Lord don’t worry about all the labels and stuff that can get you caught up. After the music stops what happens then. People need to start making music that is true to themselves. I see so many carbon copies of popular artist out there. I understand influence but copying is a no, no. Plus, CHH needs to stop saying this is for the Lord for making sub par music. I know too any artist that have not made great music and try to use the “well, I made this unto the Lord” as a crutch for it being bad. Bad is bad and i’m sure the Lord wants our best. That might include, 1. Practicing more or 2. Maybe this isn’t for you. If you are honest with yourself. I know these are harsh truths but stuff I have seen these past 14 years.

Marv

I hear that bruh. Is there anything we can be expecting in the future?

DJ Official

Hopefully, I will get my 2nd compilation out. In 2010, Reach Records released my first album titled “Entermission”. I was working on a 2nd one when everything went down (my health issues) and I couldn’t finish it. I have tons of great songs already done for it. I’m in the process of starting it back up. I’m also working on free beat mix tapes and remixes. I love to do remixes.

Marv

What advice would you give to a Producer or DJ starting out?

DJ Official

Sounds cliche but….practice, practice, practice. You get better by putting in time. Watching videos of Producer/DJ sessions on Youtube and having the right set of guys around you to be honest and push you. Listen to what’s going on around you. Take from of it all and make your own sound.

Marv

Great advice dude. Any last words?

DJ Official

No matter what ever gets thrown at you in life. Keep pushing. When things get tense and hard. Push harder. God gives us strength and we just need to ask him for it during times of hardships. Plus, when you do music ask God to help you develop a sound that would be pleasing to him, God honoring and something people would enjoy. I’m sure if your heart is right and it’s his will it will happen. Just press on.

[…] Nelson Chu aka Dj Official began dj’ing and producing for the legendary Cross Movement group around the early 2000’s and has since produced countless and timeless classics for many artists. From The Ambassador to Da’ T.R.U.T.H…from Lecrae to Tedashii, many have herd the sounds by Dj Official. […]